What Complementary and Integrative Approaches Do Americans Use?

Key Findings from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey

What complementary health approaches are most popular in the United States? What’s changed over the years? How does children’s use compare to that of adults?

Answers to these questions—and many more—can be found in the results of the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), an annual study in which tens of thousands of Americans answer questions about their health. Every 5 years, this survey includes a special section on complementary health approaches. The most recent data on complementary approaches were collected in 2012.

More Information

2012 NHIS Highlights

• In 2012, 33.2% of U.S. adults used complementary health approaches. This is similar to the percentages in 2007 (35.5%) and 2002 (32.3%).
• 11.6% of U.S. children age 4 to 17 used complementary health approaches in 2012. There was no meaningful change from 2007, when 12.0% used them.
• In 2012, as in 2007 and 2002, the most commonly used complementary approach was natural products (dietary supplements other than vitamins and minerals). 17.7% of adults and 4.9% of children age 4 to 17 used natural products.

More Key Facts About Adults

 Natural Products

• Fish oil was the #1 natural product among adults, with 7.8% using it in 2012.
• Adults’ use of fish oil, probiotics or prebiotics, and melatonin increased between 2007 and 2012.
• Adults’ use of glucosamine/chondroitin, echinacea, and garlic decreased between 2007 and 2012.

Mind and Body Approaches

• The mind and body approaches most commonly used by adults include yoga, chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation, meditation, and massage therapy.
• The percentage of adults who practice yoga has increased substantially, from 5.1% in 2002 to 6.1% in 2007 and 9.5% in 2012.

More Key Facts About Children

Natural Products

• Fish oil was the natural product most commonly used by children, with 1.1% using it in 2012. This is a change from 2007, when echinacea was #1.
• Melatonin was the #2 natural product used by children in 2012. Its use increased substantially from 2007 to 2012.

Mind and Body Approaches

• The mind and body approaches most commonly used by children includechiropractic or osteopathic manipulation, yoga, meditation, andmassage therapy.
• Yoga has become more popular among children, just as it has among adults. 3.1% of U.S. children practiced yoga in 2012, compared to 2.3% in 2007.